By The Rev. A. Wayne Schwab
Brief presentation:
- God is on mission to overcome evil and to bring the creation to fulfilment
- God’s mission has a church; the church does not have a mission
- We join God’s mission in baptism; we join God’s work of love and justice – justice is the public face of love
- Jesus is most concerned about how we live from Monday to Saturday
- Sunday is for direction and power to live that way
- Each of us has six mission fields
- home – work – local community – wider world – leisure / re-creation – church
- A spirituality for missionaries
- coworkers with God
- Jesus Christ, the victor over evil
- Jesus shares his power over evil with us – “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22)
Interaction:
- Some practice in discerning our present missions
- Divide group into six parts – assign a different mission field to each part
- Individual reflection making notes – “What I am doing right now to make life better – more loving and just – in this mission field”
- Sub-groups: each shares what they are doing
Plenary:
- Leader asks: “Do you believe God is working with you in what you are doing?”
- One person from each mission field shares what they are doing – leader presses for the specific action
- While we live in all six mission fields all the time, one, two, or three may get most of our attention at a given time. Individual reflection: “Which mission fields are getting most of my attention now?” Ask two or three to volunteer their answers.
Closing:
To structure this vision – every member on mission 24/7/365 – into congregational life
1. Incorporate the vision into your congregation’s mission statement – supporting the members in their daily living as Christians
2. Provide a continuing action for members to discern their present missions and how to talk of them with others
[Rev. A. Wayne Schwab; Coordinator of Member Mission Network, Inc., President of Member Mission Press, Chair of the Spiritual Formation Committee for the United Church of Hinesburg, VT, Author, and Speaker.]
